New Delhi: Indian badminton in 2025 will be remembered more for reassessment than success. Results were limited, and maintaining momentum proved difficult. Players like PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, and Kidambi Srikanth struggled to maintain consistency. The season lacked significant achievements, with injuries affecting preparations, quick early exits common.
The pivotal moments of Indian badminton’s 2025 season were few but impactful. Key among them was Lakshya Sen’s win at the Australian Open, his first title since December 2024 and his first outside India in nearly two years. The women’s doubles team of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly successfully defended their Syed Modi International title. That same tournament also saw Kidambi Srikanth almost break a five-year title drought but was ultimately beaten in the final by Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan, highlighting the season’s slim margins.
Among the younger players, Ayush Shetty’s breakthrough was particularly notable. The 20-year-old won the U.S. Open Super 300 title, establishing himself as a promising talent. Also impressive was 16-year-old Tanvi Sharma, who earned a silver medal in girls’ singles at the World Junior Championships. Tanvi delivered one of the season’s most memorable performances at the Syed Modi International, where she defeated former world No. 1, world champion, and Olympic medallist Nozomi Okuhara, marking a significant milestone in her early career.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India's men's doubles team, secured a bronze medal at the World Championships in Paris. Despite ongoing injury concerns that challenged their performance, they managed to find moments of form throughout the season. They concluded the year on a high note by becoming the first Indian doubles team to reach the knockout stage of the BWF World Tour Finals, marking a significant milestone. Although they finished with a bronze medal, their strong finish offered a positive ending to a challenging and inconsistent year.
(Photo courtesy: X@BAI_Media)
As the BWF World Tour restarts in 2026, Indian badminton anticipates a blockbuster year centred around two major international events, including the hosting of the Badminton World Championships in August.
The season will kick off with the Asian swing, starting with the Super 1000 Malaysia Open, followed by the Super 750 Indian Open.
In February, India will field a strong team at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Qingdao, China, from February 3-8, 2026, featuring a former world champion and multiple championship medallists. India are the reigning champions in the women’s category, while the men’s team has previously earned two bronze medals.
In March, the European leg begins with the renowned All England Open, the world’s oldest and most prestigious badminton tournament, held from March 3 to 8 at the Utilita Arena Birmingham.
Indian shuttlers have a long history of participating in the All England Open, but they have secured only two titles and reached five finals from 1980 to 2024.
Moreover, Indian badminton stars will travel to the Asian Games, the continent's major quadrennial event, starting September 19.
With multiple leading Indian badminton players targeting significant titles in 2026, this year is set to be crucial for the sport in India.
